DramaFever Selects: Five to See at AAIFF 2012

The Asian American International Film Festival kicks off this week with an exciting collection of romantic comedies, documentaries and short subjects. DramaFever, the leading source for American fans of Asian primetime TV, selected three films that stand out from the pack:
Shanghai Calling
Unquestionably one of the highlights of the festival, this charming and revealing romantic comedy stars Daniel Henney (X Men Origins: Wolverine) as a sheltered New York attorney whose firm ships him out to Shanghai. In a twist on the typical fish-out-of-water story, Asian-American Henney is assumed by everyone to be a native, even though he couldn’t feel more out of place.
Why We Picked It:
Two words: Daniel Henney. Millions of drama fans know Henney from the action hit Runaway: Plan B, where he broke hearts in an all-star cast including international superstar Rain. In Shanghai Calling, he’s irresistible as the captivating romantic lead.
Details:
July 25, 2012, 7:00pm
Asia Society
http://www.asiancinevision.org/aaiff-12-opening-night-presentation-shanghai-calling/Once (shown as part of Love, Interrupted)
Spanning many years, Once is the tender story of two girls who meet one summer and slowly realize they've fallen in love. The pressures of a disapproving society tear them apart, but the binding power of first
love remains strong.
Why We Picked It: We loved this touching look at two women finding each other against all odds–and we're not alone: with over 1.5 million views online, clearly Once is striking a chord with audiences.
Details:
July 27, 2012, 6:30pm
Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
http://www.asiancinevision.org/once/$upercapitalist
The Centerpiece film of AAIFF, this high-budget thriller follows in the footsteps of films from Wall Street to The Dark Knight Rises in finding inspiration in the unpredictable swings of finance. Conner (Derek Ting) is an American hedge fund trader who finds himself in way
over his head after he travels to Hong Kong to complete a deal that could make his future or destroy him.
Why We Picked It: We were caught up in this story that pits basic humanity against greed and boundless ambition, stylishly filmed in the United States and Hong Kong. And did we mention free admission to the sweet after party is included?
Details:
July 28, 2012, 7:45pm
Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
http://www.asiancinevision.org/supercapitalist/Modern Family (shown as part of In the Name of Love)
Korean horror fans, this one’s for you. Whether you get your fix from no-holds-barred horror flicks like I Saw the Devil or spooky TV series like Soul, you won’t want to miss the horrific satire Modern Family. An unexpected phone call from home jolts Hyun Soo out of a meeting, and he returns home to a chilling and unforgettable sequence of unfortunate events.
Why We Picked It: Modern Family delivers the chills along with intriguing surprises at every turn until the inevitable­–but unexpected–conclusion.
Details:
Aug 4, 2012, 5:45pm
Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
http://www.asiancinevision.org/modern-family/Yes, We’re Open
A completely different kind of modern romance, Yes, We’re Open finds Sylvia (Lynn Chen) and Luke (Parry Shen) as a San Francisco couple considering a new frontier: the open relationship. Director Richard Wong finds the right note of humor and intimacy in this sexy and totally absorbing story.
Why We Picked It: Whether you're in a relationship or not, everyone has an opinion on this topic. See it with someone you love, and get ready for some frisky after-movie conversation!
Details:
Aug 4, 2012, 7pm
Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
http://www.asiancinevision.org/yes-were-open/
For more coverage and photos of AAIFF 2012, including all the fashion and glamour of the opening gala, check back at blog.dramafever.com!